Buffalo Bills LB Joe Andreessen: All-22 analysis and player profile

It’s no secret, Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen has emerged as the darling of 2024 training camp. The Buffalo native emerged from the depths of the Bills’ training camp after earning a rookie minicamp tryout and made his mark in Week 2 of the NFL Preseason.

Andreessen is currently all the rage with the Bills Mafia, and rightly so, given his first NFL start stats: 11 total tackles, 6 solo tackles, 2 tackles for loss. Let’s get to know Andreessen a little better and analyze his game with an All-22 perspective.

Buffalo Joe

Bills Mafia has always had a soft spot for underdogs, and Joe Andreessen embodies that role perfectly. What makes his story even more compelling is his deep local roots. Andreessen is a true hometown hero, having attended high school in Buffalo and even played a season for the UB Bulls.

His journey from small-town beginnings to the professional stage is the kind of story that resonates with the heart of Buffalo. Here’s a snapshot of a local product chasing his dream and capturing the spirit of this city along the way.

Lancaster High School

Andreessen attended Lancaster High School and played his senior season of football in 2017. He was also an excellent wrestler. Here are some notable accomplishments from his high school years:

Football:

• Second place in the state 2017
• 118 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 525 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns as a senior
• Two-time All-State Linebacker
• 2017 WNY Defensive Player of the Year
• 2017 Shane Conlan Award for WNY Most Outstanding Linebacker
• 2017 NUC All-American

Wrestling:

• Wrestling team won the 2017/2018 Class AA State Title
• 161 victories in his career

Bryant University

Spent five seasons (2018-2022) at Bryant University.

• 2022 AP All-American 2nd Team
• STATS 2022 Performance FCS All-American 2nd Team
• Sets a season record in 2022 with 116 tackles (18.5 TFL)
• Finished in the top 5 in tackles and tackles for loss per game in the FCS in 2022
• Finished third in career tackles with 256

University of Buffalo

Andreessen returned to his home country in 2023 to play for his local university, which gave him an extra year of eligibility due to COVID.

• Led the Bulls with 90 tackles
• Led the Bulls with 12 tackles for loss
• Had one sack, two pass breakups and one forced fumble

NFL Draft Profile

• Height: 1.85 m
• Weight: 240
• 40-yard dash: 4.65 seconds
• 10-yard split: 8.71 seconds
• Vertical jump: 38”
• Long jump: 10′
• Bench press: 32 reps
• Shuttle: 8.84 seconds
• 3-cone drill: 5.56 seconds

Buffalo Bills

• Was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Listed as an UDFA (undrafted free agent)
• Gets a rookie minicamp tryout with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs
• Signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills after a successful tryout
• Saw his first NFL action in Week 1 of the 2024 Preseason against the Chicago Bears, playing in three defensive series in the second half. Had four total tackles.
• Started in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason and played eight defensive series against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Registered 11 total tackles and two tackles for loss.

All-22 Analysis

Play 1

Andreessen started the game with a bang, literally. He read his keys quickly and charged downhill with authority. He hit the blocker and jolted him back, extended his arms and dropped the block to make the tackle. Keep in mind, this was against the Steelers’ starters, not a third-string fringe player.

Play 2

The Bills asked Andreessen to run the seam route in Tampa 2 coverage on this play. He did a good job of running the route slowly, making sure to take away the inside. Once the receiver committed to the seam, Andreessen stayed with him step for step.

Play 3

Andreessen read this play well and hit the block with a solid bend, but he failed to make the tackle. Good job getting to the football, but poor finishing.

Play 4

This was one of Andreessen’s most impressive plays of the game. He was tracking the screen play to the RB but ended up running into an offensive lineman. He realized the play was going outside so he shook to maintain leverage while shaking off the block and was able to make an impressive tackle on the shifty RB Jaylen Warren.

Play 5

The play processing and play speed to beat the blockers on this play is impressive. Andreessen ran over the play a bit, but he pushed the ball back inside into the waiting arms of his running mate Dorian Williams.

Play 6

Tell me who this looks like…? If you replaced the 44 with a 58, I think everyone would believe it was Matt Milano. Andreessen looks like he got hit with a cannon when he made that tackle for loss.

Play 7

It’s impressive to tackle one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in the open field, and Andreessen makes it look easy.

Play 8

This play was on Andreessen’s last drive of the game and I thought this was his worst drive of the night (excluding the play below). He looked a little tired and wasn’t that explosive. On this play he was in position but couldn’t make the tackle and gave up a first down.

Play 9

Andreessen finished his breakout game with a huge play. He stayed true to his read and played the QB on the read-option, forcing a turnover on downs. He showed enough athleticism to match the speed of Justin Fields.

In summary

In the span of just a few weeks, Joe Andreessen has gone from an undrafted rookie fighting for a roster spot to the talk of the Buffalo Bills’ training camp. His story has the Bills Mafia captivated, and his on-field performance is backing up the buzz.

As the preseason progresses, it’s clear that Andreessen isn’t just competing for a roster spot — he’s demanding it. If his All-22 film is any indication, this homegrown hero is just getting started, and Bills fans should be excited to see what he can do as he continues to chase his NFL dreams.